Obituary for Violet Reed

Violet Reed

September 4, 1921 — July 26, 2023

Violet Josephine Reed, age 101, resident of Ponca City, Oklahoma, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on July 26, 2023. While in her home, she peacefully passed surrounded by loved ones.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, July 31, 2023 at Providence Baptist Church, 1301 E. Bradley, Ponca City, OK with Pastor Rex Branstetter officiating.

She is preceded in death by her husband Howard Grey Reed, oldest son Howard Roscoe Reed, and great-great granddaughter, Lauren Ann Lyle.

She is survived by her daughter Sherryl Ann Kitchen and son Derryl DeWayne Reed (wife Mona) both of Ponca City, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren Lillian Abby Reed-Whitmore (husband Brian), Adam Wayne Reed (wife Lynne), Andrea Denise Dolezal-Rains (husband Shan), Alice Deaun Dolezal-Dwyer (husband Ron), Bradley MacArthur Dolezal (wife Amy), Stacy Michelle Reed-Jackson (husband Chris), Aaron Lee Reed (wife Christina), Nicole Annette Reed-Kinnear (husband John), Ryan Shawn Reed, and Gabrielle Tamara Reed in addition to her seventeen great grandchildren, and twelve great-great grandchildren.

She was born Violet Josephine on September 4, 1921 in Newkirk, Oklahoma to Gladys Irene Wood and Ethel Berton Anderson. She was the third of four children. Her two older siblings were Thelma Mae Nancy Jane and Olen Berton “Bud”. Her younger sibling was Melvin Joseph Anderson (all deceased). Violet attended McKinley Elementary School, Ponca City Junior High and High School where she was on the swim and dive teams as she was an expert diver spending many hours diving at Lew Wentz swimming pool in Ponca City. While attending Ponca City High School, she met the love of her life, Howard Grey Reed. In secret (so they thought) they eloped to Winfield, Kansas where they were married in 1940. After several months their parents learned of their “covert operation” thus creating for them an opportunity to establish their first home in Ponca City, Oklahoma. After the birth of their first child, Roscoe, they moved to Houston in 1943. Two years later they moved back to Ponca City to raise their three children. Upon relocation to Ponca City, Howard began a career as a draftsman for City Service (which later merged with Continental Oil Company). During this time, Violet made her mark in the beauty industry as a cosmetologist and sales clerk for Merle Norman Studios in downtown Ponca City. Violet took great pride in her skin care regimen with Merle Norman beauty products coupled with daily beauty naps and had flawless ivory skin to prove it! In fact, many of her great granddaughters proudly state that they inherited their bent for stylish and dazzling hair from their Great Grandmother Violet.During the early years of her marriage to Howard, they took the three kids on many family trips to Camp Roma in Eagle Lake, Minnesota where they delighted in bass, crappie, and pike fishing, boating, picnics, and campfires.Where Howard went, Violet went. What he did, she did. Nothing stopped her. With this can-do attitude she learned to play golf, hunt, and fish because of Howard. Oh – and most importantly she learned the rules of football! Over time, all of Violet’s grandchildren had to learn to cheer for her favorite professional football team, the Denver Broncos!! Grandma loved her football!! After church on Sunday afternoons Violet could be found with Howard playing golf at the Marland Mansion. Additionally, she went salmon fishing in Alaska, elk and deer hunting in Colorado, crawfish catching in Louisiana, and even duck hunting in Perry, Oklahoma. In 1971 Howard and Violet moved to Denver, Colorado where Howard continued his career as a draftsman and oil field inspector. During the Colorado years, Violet enjoyed many visits from her children and grandchildren. During these visits she would teach them how to make her famous cream-cheese mints! Other favorite memories include picnics at Rocky Mountain National Park, panning for gold in the mountain streams, dinners at the world famous Casa Bonita, and visits to Central City, Colorado along with evening walks and bicycle rides on the many neighborhood trails. Yes, Violet relished everything that Colorado had to offer: hunting and fishing in the Rockies, the Denver Broncos, and Coors Beer. After ten years in the Denver metro area, Violet and Howard relocated for a final time to Lake Charles, Louisiana where Howard finished his gas and oil career. Finally, in 1986, they enthusiastically moved back to Oklahoma for retirement where they established their highly anticipated retirement home in Perry, Oklahoma. After Howard’s death in 1995, Violet continued to live in Perry for several years. From her back porch, she savored bird watching and observing wildlife. She took great pride in hostessing and cooking Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners that looked just like a Norman Rockwell scene! Finally, in 2004, Violet moved back to Ponca City where she fancied weekly hair salon visits, Sunday church services, birthday celebrations, family reunions, and frequent visits from family and friends. Additionally, Violet was known for her beautiful crocheted afghans and knitted houseshoes. She was always knitting colorful houseshoes for all of her family members. The grandkids loved receiving Christmas house shoes in the mail. She was an incredible baker known for her homemade breads, strawberry shortcake, cherry pies, and her ever-famous pumpkin roll. However, her biggest attribute was her constant smile, She even smiled when she slept. Truth!

In closing, Violet Reed was an absolutely amazing woman, an exquisite example of Christ’s love. She was quick witted, kind, gentle, and always smelled good! She was well traveled, adored by hundreds, loved the Lord, loved her family, and was the epitome of good taste! Everyone who has ever known her was blessed to have been close to her. While it’s always so hard to say goodbye, we take comfort in knowing where she is spending eternity and that she has been reunited with so many loved ones that have passed on before her. Though our earthly hearts mourn, our heavenly hearts rejoice! She will be deeply missed by her many friends and family.

Pallbearers are Bradley Dolezal, Adam Reed, Grey Whitmore, Brian Whitmore, Ron Dwyer, and Shan Rains. Honorary Pallbearers are Ryan Spencer, Shane O’Mealey, Robert Lyle, Ruben Flores, Chris Jackson, and Sam Bluntzer.

Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel, 2016 N. 14th Street, Ponca City, OK, 74601. Services will be July 31st at 10 AM at Providence Baptist Church on 1301 E. Bradley Avenue, Ponca City, OK 74601. Burial and graveside services will take place at IOOF Cemetery, 1206 S. Waverly, Ponca City, OK. A visitation is scheduled from 4:00 – 8:00 PM on Sunday evening, July 30th. Family will receive friends and relatives from 5:00 – 7:00 PM.

Those unable to attend the service in person, may join via the Grace Memorial website: www. gracememorialchapel.net. Services will be livestreamed then uploaded and attached to Violet’s obituary on her Grace Memorial website. Simply click on her page under obituaries.

A memorial fund has been set up in her name. Contributions may be sent/made to Providence Baptist Church of Ponca City, Oklahoma.